Nail clipper



Jan. 5, I954 w. E. BASSETT 2,664,624

NAIL CLIPPER Filed July 5, 1950 Zhwemor M @m (Ittornegs Patented Jan. 5,1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NAIL CLIPPER William E. Bassett,Woodbridge, Conn.

Application July 5, 1950, Serial No. 172,077

4 Claims.

This invention relates to nail clippers and the like, particularly tothat type of nail clippers in which a pair of flexible jaw members aresecured together at one end and have cutting jaws at the other endnormally held open by the resilience of the jaw members, and theinvention is especially intended as an improvement over the clippershown in my Patent No. 2,477,782, granted August 2, 1949.

In this form of clipper, a cam lever is operatively connected to the jawmembers by having a cross bar on the end of the lever extend through anundercut slot in a pivot pin extending loosely through the jaw members.The resilient pressure of the jaw members which causes them to normallyspread apart also presses the cross bar into the undercut portion of theslot to retain the lever in operative position to manipulate theclipper.

A disadvantage of this construction as heretofore made results from thefact that merely pressing the jaw members together enough to cause thejaws to engage sometimes produces such relative movement between theundercut lever-retaining slot and the lever-engaging jaw member as toopen the slot sufficiently to allow the lever to be slipped out of theslot unintentionally by the user. When this occurs the user generallythinks the clipper is broken and returns the separated parts to thefactory for repair, whereas all that is needed is to slip the cross baron the end, of thelever back into the slot in the pivot pin whilepressing the jaws together.

An object of this invention is to providea nail clipper of the abovetype constructed and arranged to positively retain the operating leveragainst accidental removal without destroying the facility with whichthe parts can be assembled during manufacture.

A further object is to provide a nail clipper having a lever and pinassembly which can be assembled and disassembled only by applying aflexing stress to the associated jaw members which is greater than anyproduced in normal operation, so that in normal use the lever willalways be retained in operative association with the clipper.

A further object is to provide a nail clipper having a folding nail filemovable from inoperative to operative position having an improvedarrangement for retaining the file in inoperative position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification. It is, however, to be'understood the invention isnot limited to the specific details of construction and arrangementshown, but may transverse undercut rec ss 01 n tc 20 p n 2 embodyvarious changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a nail clipper constructed in accordance withone embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the clipper shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the operating leverextended and illustrating a nail file attachment embodying one of thefeatures of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the operating cam lever in jawoperating position and the nail file extended, and

Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section on an enlarged scale throughthe cutting jaws and the cam lever and pin assembly illustrating themanner of retaining the lever in operative association with the jawsagainst accidental disassembly while permitting easy assembly anddisassembly thereof when intended, as indicated in broken lines.

This improved clipper comprises two superimposed cutter jaw members Illand H which are preferably stamped from sheet metal of fairly heavygauge of any desired shape, but preferably of the substantiallyoblongshape shown, and which are secured in superimposed relation at one endportion by any suitable means, such, for example, as spot welding l2.These members are provided at their opposite ends with cutter jaws l3and I 4, the free edge portions of which are provided with curvedcutting or knife edges 15 and I6 opposed to each other so that whenforced together on opposite sides of a finger nail, toenail, or thelike, they will trim it to the curved shape of these cutting edges, thefree ends of the jaws-being preferably offset from the members I0, IIand inclined toward each other somewhat, as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6,whereby those portions of the members ill, II adjacent the jaws l3, Mare spaced apart. These jaws l3, 14 are normally held open, as shown inFigs. 2 and 5, and this may be done by various means, but preferablyeither one or both of the members It! and H are spring members, or madeof resilient metal, which tend to assume this position.

The means for operating these jaws and their cutting or knife edgescomprises a pin I! extending through aligned openings 18 and [9 in thejaws, with its head l9a on the under side of the lower jaw and its shankextending through the upper jaw to a distance above this jaw, this shankbeing provided in one side with a curved through a side of the pinproviding at its top an inverted curved hook portion in which is seateda transverse bar 22 at the end of an operating lever 23. This bar isprovided by cutting an opening 24 in this lever spaced a suitabledistance back from the adjacent end, and this end of the lever is bentdownwardly, as shown at in Fig. 2, to' rest against the top of the upperjaw member II, so that the spring action of the jaws will tend to swingthe free end of the lever 23 downwardly against the top of the upper jawmember out of the way into the irioperative position, this action beingsecured by the lever action on the ends of the curved portion 25, andthe bar 22 seating in the end of the notch 20 in the pivot pin. Thelever is also provided with an upwardly pressed lug 26 a short distancefrom the pin H, the end 21 of which when the lever is reversed may reston the top of the upper jaw member II for operation of the cutter in theclipping operation, see Fig. 5. In moving this device to this position,the lever is raised from the position of Figs. 1 and 2 about its pivotbar 22 to the position of Fig. 4 and then is swung in a circle about thepin IV, the pin during this movement turning in the jaws as a pivot forthe lever to permit the lever to be swung to the position of Fig. 5 overthe upper bar I I in which position it is reversed or turned over fromthe position of Figs. 1 and 2, so that the lug 25 is on the under sideof the lever, and its free ed e 21 rests on the top of the upper jawmember II, as shown in Fig. 6, the bar 22 of the lever re maining in theundercut notch 23 of the pivot pin and forming a pivot for the lever.Now, by pressing downwardly the free end of the lever 23, the lug 26will force the upper jaw member II downwardly or toward the other jawmember I[I, and will force the cutting or knife edges I5 and I6 togetherfor the clipping or trimming op- 1 eration. After use, the lever 23 maybe swung again to the position of Fig. 4, using the pin I! as a pivot,and then swung to the inoperative position on top of the jaw member IIas shown in Figs. 1 and '2; I If desired, the under side of the lever(which is the upper side when the lever is in the position of Figs. 5and 6) may be cut or roughened, as shown at 29. to form a better gripior the thumb when using the device. Also it is preferred that the endportion of this lever be bent' downward as 'sh own at 31c, Fig. 5. Thisbrings the portion 31' between this point and-the free end 28 on a planesubstantially parallel with thebody of the clipper, when the lever isdepressed into the position where the cutting edges grip and cut thenail (Fig. 6), so that the thumb pressure is exerting a force on thepart 31 rather than ongthe sharp end of the lever. This bend also raisesthe free end 28 of the lever above the member when in the foldedposition of Fi s. 1 and 2 to provide a clearance under this free end, asshown at 38, for insertion of a thumbnail to facilitate raising thelever.

In the present invention the lip 2I at the upper edge of the undercutslot 20 in the lever supporting pivot pin I'I extends downwardly towardthe jaw member II a suffic ent distance to reta n the bar 22 in the slot20 in both the open jaw position shown in Fig. 5 and the closed jaw po--sition shown in solid lines in Fig. 6. so that even in the latterposition the jaw member II closes the slot sufficiently to preventremoval of the operating lever 23 from the assembly. This is becausewhen in the closed position-of the jaws as shown in Fig. 6, the distance21a between the free end of lip 2I and the top surface of member l I isless than the thickness of the bar 22 of the operating lever 23.Therefore, with the present construction, in order to assemble ordisassemble the lever and other parts, it is necessary to subject thejaw members I 0 and II to a greater than normal jaw closing pressure tothereby flex the resilient jaw member II, as shown in broken lines I lain Fig 6, away from the end of the lip 2I suniciently to open the slot20 or increase the space 2Ia far enough to permit withdrawal from theslot 2|] of the lever cross bar 22, or to permit insertion of the crossbar 22 in the slot 20 in originally assembling the parts. Sufficientpressure for this purpose can be applied in any convenient type ofpress, or the like. Thus, for example, if the bar 22 on lever 23 isapproximately .050 inch thick, but the opening or space 2| a from thetop of member I! to the end of lip 2| when the jaws are closed is only.030", it will be clear this will not allow the lever 23 to becomedetached or disassembled through the space 2m until member H isdepressed at least .020 inch or slightly over, as indicated by dottedline' Ha.

As a result of the present invention, noaccidental separation of theoperating lever 23 from the pivot pin I! can occur in normal use, asnormal pressures will not flex member H as indicated to release thelever, while the ease of assembling the parts in manufacturing the ellper is retained.

The advantages of the invention flow, for the most part, from theconstruction of the pin :2. The slot 20 may be considered as atransverse or entry slot intermediate the ends of the pin, and the upper(Fig. 6) side, i. e., the side away from the head I9a as being undercutso as to provide a deep slot extending toward the end of the pin awayfrom the head and defined be generally parallel walls generally parallelto the axis of the pin and the end of the slot defined by the wall 20'.Theslot in the pin I? is nor mally closed by the jaws to such an extentthat the cross bar 22 cannot be disengaged from the pin by any normalpressure on the jaws but only by an abnormal pressure as heretoforedescribed. Thus with a deep slot as disclosed the jaws may be opened toan extent much greater than is pos sible with a shallow slot asdisclosed in the art, and yet there is no danger of accidentaldisengagement of thecrqss bar 22 from the slot.

Through the opposite ends of the jaw members i8 and I I is formed anopening whereby the device may be connected to a key ring, chain or thelike, and pivotally mounted at this end is a nail file 30. This is aflat blade member cut on either surface, preferably the upper surface,to form the file 3|, and it may be reduced in thickness and rounded orpointed at its free end 32 to provide a means for cleaning under thenail. It is pivotally mounted on the upper side of the upper jaw memberH by means of an eyelet 33 passing. through the opening in the members I0 and I] and rolled over at its opposite ends to form securing flanges34. This eyelet also passes through an opening in the member '30 to forma pivotal mounting for this. member to allow it to be swung in a planesubstantially parallel to the plane of the members it and. II to afolded position on the top of the. upper member I I when not in use, orto be swung laterally, as shown in dotted lines Fig. 4, to a moreexposed position for use than-when lying over the upper member I I. Whenin the posi tion on the top of the member H, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,it lies under and is covered by the operating lever 23, so that it isprotected and prevented from catching on clothing or other objects.

On the opposite side edges of this file member adjacent the pivot 33, itis provided with a pair of upwardly extending lugs 35 between which thefree end portion of the lever 23 may seat and be held when in the closedor inoperative position of Figs. 1 and 2 and prevent its inadvertentlybeing swung from this position when carrying or not in use. A lug orbump 36 on the under side of the nail file 3S, which may be formed bypunching through from the top side, or in any other way, slidablyengages the adjacent face of the upper jaw member Ii and raises itslightly against the spring action of the metal of the file tofrictionally retain the file in folded position, as shown in full linesin Fig. 4, so that the file is thus held against inadvertent movementlaterally out of its closed position but can be readily swung to theoperative extended position for use. The frictional retaining lug 36 onthe nail file 39 provides the necessary friction for holding the file infolded position without in any way affecting the simplicity ofmanufacture or ease of assembly of the clipper parts.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. The combination in a nail clipper of relatively movable jaw members,a jaw operating cam lever having a cross bar adjacent one end, meansconnecting said lever to said jaw members including a pin having atransverse slot therein intermediate the ends and extending looselythrough aligned openings in said jaw members and having a head on oneend engaging one of said jaw members, the side of the slot in said pinaway from said head being undercut to provide a slot extending towardthe end of said pin away from said head and being generally parallel tothe axis of said pin to rotatably receive said cross bar and hold saidlever in operative engagement with the other of said members, said otherjaw member operatively closing said transverse slot sufficiently toretain said cross bar therein in both normal open and closed positionsof said jaw members and being sufficiently flexible to permitdisplacement thereof to operatively open said slot for insertion orremoval of said cross bar only upon the application thereto of greaterthan normal operating jaw-closing pressure.

2. The combination in a nail clipper of relatively movable jaw members,a jaw operating cam lever having a cross bar adjacent one end, meansconnecting said lever to said jaw members including a pin having atransverse slot intermediate its axis and extending loosely throughaligned openings in said jaw members and having a head on one endengaging one of said jaw members, the side of the transverse slot insaid pin away from said head being undercut to provide a deep slotextending toward the end of said pin away from said head and defined bygenerally parallel walls generally parallel to the axis of the pin torotatably receive said cross bar and hold said lever in operativeengagement with the other of said members, said other jaw memberoperatively closing said slot suificiently to retain said cross bartherein in both normal open and closed positions of said jaw members andbeing sufiiciently flexible to permit displacement thereof tooperatively open said slot for insertion or removal of said cross baronly upon the application thereto of greater than normal operatingjaw-closing pressure, while maintaining said slot operatively closed toretain said cross bar therein under normal operating pressures.

3. The combination in a nail clipper of resilient relatively movable jawmembers, a jaw operating cam lever havin a cross bar adjacent one end,and means connecting said lever to said jaw members including a pinhaving a transverse slot and extending loosely through aligned openingsin said jaw members and having a head on one end engaging one of saidjaw members, the side of the slot in said pin away from the head beingundercut to provide a deep slot extending toward the end of said pinaway from said head and defined by generally parallel walls generallyparallel to the axis of the pin to rotatably receive said cross bar andhold said lever in operative engagement with the other of said members,a lip on one side of said slot spaced from the adjacent jaw member adistance less than the thickness of said cross bar to operatively closesaid slot and retain said cross bar therein in both normal open andclosed positions of said jaw members, said adjacent jaw member beingsufiiciently flexible to permit displacement thereof to operatively opensaid slot for insertion or removal of said cross bar only upon theapplication thereto of greater than normal closing pressure, whilemaintaining said slot operatively closed to retain said cross bartherein under normal operating pressures.

The combination in a nail clipper of resilient relatively movable jawmembers connected together at one end and ofiset cutting jaws at theother ends whereby the portions of said jaw members adjacent said jawsare spaced apart, a jaw operating cam lever having a cross bar adjacentone end, and means connecting said lever to the spaced apart portions ofsaid jaw members including a pin having a transverse slot intermediatethe ends and extending loosely through aligned openings in said jawmembers and having a head on one end engaging one of said jaw members,the side of the transverse slot in said pin away from the head beingundercut to provide a deep slot extending toward the end of said pinaway from the head and defined by generally parallel walls generallyparallel to the axis of the pin to rotatably receive said cross bar andhold said lever in engagement with the other of said jaw members, theadjacent jaw member being so positioned as to operatively close saidslot to retain said cross bar therein in both open and closed positionsof said jaw members and being sufiiciently flexible to permitdisplacement thereof to operatively open said slot for insertion orremoval of said cross bar only upon the application thereto of greaterthan normal operating closing pressure, while maintaining said slotoperatively closed to retain said cross bar therein under normaloperating pressures.

WILLIAlVL E. BASSETT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,538,995 Lakatos May 26, 1925 1,702,137 Schnefel Feb. 12,1929 2,477,782 Bassett Aug. 2, 1949

